DP is a maniac

[Kittycuddles]

So today I was chatting (via text) with my dp and was discussing dinner (what he was having at his place) and so he says about having pasta and maybe just adding tomatoes, butter and sweet corn or skmething to that extent as he didnt have much in.

I got confused and asked if he was going to add the butter on top of the cooked pasta, thinking you know, each to their own but that's kinda ew.

And he says no. In the water whilst cooking.

I said ew

He said don't judge me, it's just instead of oil cause we don't have any here at my place.

Aibu to think he is a raving loony to cook pasta by PUTTING OIL OR BUTTER KN THE BOILING WATER WHILST IT COOKS??????

ITS DEFUNCT. THE OIL FLOATS TO THE TOP. SURELY IT MAKES IT GREASY. WTF?????

@BoneyBackJefferson

I'm going to be singing that all night!

I'm not keen on pasta, but I don't think there is anything that isn't improved by adding butter.

I am not Italian, but I have been assured by Italians that you do not need to put oil into the water!!! You just make sure you don’t overcook it and serve straight away.

YY Scrambled.

Watching Samin Nosrat completely re-educated me about seasoning and the need to taste the water to check it's salty enough. I found her documentary so interesting and she's a fantastic, warm and engaging presenter - I'd recommend the series (Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat - on Netflix). I have her book on order!

I heard it's a total myth adding oil and a complete waste of oil. Freshly drained pasta tossed in butter is nice with a fairly plain tomato sauce on top.

Oil and salt here!

i put butter in my pasta water

Butter is really nice on pasta.

No self respecting Italian would add oil or butter to the pasta, it stops the sauce from sticking.

I think we can take advice from the Italian ps when it comes to cooking pasta.

Just make sure enough salt is added! It should be salty like sea water.

I used to add oil to pasta until someone told me it makes no difference. I tried it and it makes no difference.

What makes a difference is giving it a stir one minute after it's gone in. Stops it sticking perfectly.

I think pasta with sweetcorn and tomatoes sounds quite nice, the butter I can take or leave, I don't put grease in my pasta to stop it sticking - but I don't think people who do are completely bonkers.

Tomatoes. sweetcorn, bit of salt,black pepper and a little bit of parmesan - very nice (might make it myself tomorrow )

(pasta with mayo, peas and cheese is quite nice too if your DP wants more recipe ideas )

I stayed with an Italian nonna in Umbria for a few weeks - I think she'd have scalped me if I'd have gone anywhere near her pan with oil!

The water should be as salty as the Mediterranean(!), boiling, and you should only stir the pasta once immediately after it's gone in the water.

I had no idea you had to add salt!

Putting oil in helps prevent the pasta from sticking together

Complete fallacy.

I thought a bit of salt stopped the pasta sticking together?

PUT oil in pasta
SAID NO ITALIAN EVER

Well I add salt and oil to the water when I cook pasta AND RICE. It works.

Who are all these people with sticking together pasta? I have never had this - not once, ever.
Plenty of water, cook to al dente, drain and use immediately. What are you all doing to it to make it stick?

InspectorIkmen

I agree. Big enough pan, one quick stir, no problem.

You know what's lovely? Spaghetti with real butter melted on it.

It's quite old school (not traditional) to add oil to the water to cook pasta. That's old school from pasta was fairly unusual food.

Though if you're going to do it, butter would be a non-maniac substitute.

Heard of it but it is unnecessary

I did a pasta making class and was told to add enough salt to the cooking water make it akin to sea water and never add oil as it prevents the sauce from sticking to the pasta. So yanbu op!

If your pan is too small then a drop of oil can stop the pasta sticking and cooking evenly. My pan is usually big enough, but sometimes I have to cook enough for extra people and the pasta always stuck until I started putting a drop of oil in. Can't say it's ever come out greasy.